July, 1952 
THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST 
Page sixty-one 
large blue Glossidia major grew in thick drifts. 
The Spider Orchid, Caladenia Menziesi and Cala- 
denia Cairnsiana, and the large Diuris longifolia 
were everywhere, the last forming thick carpets 
through the bush. There were also patches of 
Diuris palachila. 
We descended to the creek above the third fall 
to see the Coral Fern ( Gleichenia circinata), the 
Sword Fern and the Maiden hair Fern ( Adiantum 
aethiopicum). We then followed the creek down 
to the kiosk. 
A species of Patersonia was found near the 
Second Fall. The graceful Marianthus bignoma- 
ceus was climbing on shrubs at the water’s edge 
above the Third Fall. Several species of Lomandra 
were in flower, and a species of Stellaria was 
plentiful. 
Tetretheca, Goodenia, Hibbertia, Pultenaea, 
VUlwynia, Grew llca, Pimelea and many other ger- 
era made splashes of colour everywhere. The vig- 
our of many introduced plants was striking, espec- 
ially below the kiosk: — Hawthorn, Olive, Lav- 
ender, Salvation Jane, Onion Weed, Onion Grass 
and the large pink flowered Oxalis. The last 
three were also found well above the kiosk not 
far from the main road. Three species of Solarium 
were noted and the ever present Sparania. 
The introduced plants in the lower foot-hills 
seem to be more vigorous than the native flora. 
— M. DAVIS. 
EXCURSION TO A HIGH RIDGE 
AT NATIONAL PARK ON 
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 
20th OCTOBER, 1951 
The party alighted at National Park railway 
station in cool spring weather, and a “ridge” being 
indicated on the programme, a decision was made 
to climb the nearest one. 
Crossing the railway line, and negotiating a 
particularly well-kept fence, the party was faced 
with the possibilities of an extremely steep ascent. 
The first delight was a large colony of Maiden 
Hair Fern ( Adiantum aethiopicum), in all its spring 
glory of long and delicate fronds. Here the green 
hillside was dotted with brilliantly yellow butter- 
cups. 
The climbing now became more arduous, but 
the slower progress was an aid to treasure-finding. 
The Liliaceae family was well represented on this 
sheltered slope. The blues of Dichopogon 
strictus and C aesia vittaia, were plentifully inter- 
spersed with the yellow of the Bulbine bulbosa 
and the white of the Burchardia umbellata. 
The “Australian Bugle Flower,” Ajuga australis, 
a Labiatae having sky-blue flowers gained much 
admiration, as did also Glossodia major , which 
grew here in profusion. 
The party now gradually separating into groups, 
gave loud calls to attract others, which greeted 
the finding of orchids. Particularly beautiful, was 
the spider orchid, Caladenia dilitata in large col- 
onies of fine blooms and long stems. 
Less frequent was Caladenia carnea, and in 
sheltered spots were small groups of Caladenia 
Menziesii. Calochilus Robertsonii was a heartening 
reward for clambering up to the ridge-top, but 
Thelymitra pauci flora were all resolutely shut for 
the afternoon for lack of sunshine. At least seven 
different orchids were found on this ridge, in com- 
munity with other flora, Tetratheeca pilosa, and 
also a large patch of Acrotriche fasciculi flora. 
There being no density of vegetation, the spring 
flora was displayed in all its colourful beauty, 
which was a joy to see as we rested after the long 
climb. 
Returning by a different track, there were fresh 
findings. Scaevola microcar pa, a prostrate plant of 
pale lavender flowers was decorative to hillside 
and railway banks. Of the same family was 
Goodenia primulacea, which with Stackhousia 
monogyna, Pimelea humilis, and the cushion-like 
Hibbertia, contributed to the yellow, in the colour 
scheme of yellow and blue of the spring display. 
Brunonia australis, a blue button flower of superb 
beauty, grew among tall “Billy Buttons,” Craspedia 
uniflora, and “Yam,” Microscris scapigera. 
Descending to the damper slopes, the ground 
was covered with Acaena ovina, of the Rose family, 
which, until its seeds ripen and become trouble- 
some, has the merit of possessing decorative shiny * 
green foliage. 
Stepping out over small streamlets and rocky 
pathways, where Rock Fern, Chelianthes tennui- 
folia, was now having its spring display, and pass- 
ing through high bracken fern, we eventually 
reached the station. 
Here there was leisure to gaze on all sides at 
the magnificent vistas of the National Park, wish- 
ing fervently that it would remain in its present 
virgin state, as a permanent gift to the people. 
EXCURSION TO RAZOR-BACK 
RIDGE— 5th APRIL, 1952 
Ecology is the branch of botany, which deals with 
the environment in which plants live. With native 
plants the two most important factors in that 
environment are the climate and the soil. In the 
scrubs which we usually visit, such as at Stoneyfell 
and Mount Lofty, the basic rock is quartzite, and 
the soil in consequence is of a sandy nature. This 
soil environment gives us the dominant shrubs 
Acacia myrtifolia (Scrub wattle), Pultenaea 
daphnoides (Large-leaf bush pea), Epacris impressa 
(Common heath), Astroloma conostephioides 
(Flame heath), and Banksia marginata (Silver 
Banksia). 
But in the Razor-back ridge locality the basic 
rock is shale, which by weathering gives a heavy 
red clay soil. So we found as the main ingredient 
of the flora quite a different type of scrub in 
Olearia tubuiliflora (Quill daisy bush), a dense 
shrub up to 3 ft. high and 4 ft. wide, with 
Astroloma humifusa (Cranberry heath), Hibbertia 
stricta (Erect guinea flower) as undershrubs, and 
an occasional specimen of Acacia pycnantha 
(Golden wattle). 
Then as to the climatic aspect of ecology, the 
side of the gully we examined faced east and was 
studded with the rough barked Eucalyptus obliqua 
(Messmate stringybark), which requires a fair 
amount of moisture. But the other side of the 
gully, which faces west, and so is subject to the 
heat of the afternoon sun was beautified by the 
clean white stems of quite another species, 
Eucalyptus fasciculosus (Pink gum), which can 
flourish in more arid conditions. 
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